World Health Day

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World Health Day, celebrated on 7 April every year to mark the anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization, provides us with a unique opportunity to mobilize action around a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The theme of our 2017 World Health Day campaign is depression. Depression affects people of all ages, from all walks of life, in all countries. It causes mental anguish and impacts on people’s ability to carry out even the simplest everyday tasks, with sometimes devastating consequences for relationships with family and friends and the ability to earn a living. At worst, depression can lead to suicide, now the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year olds.

More than 100 million people suffer from mental health disorders in the Western Pacific.

Depressive disorders alone are responsible for 5.73% of the disease burden in the Region. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide.

There are over 500 estimated suicides per day in the Western Pacific Region.